MENTAL MODEL · M9138

Closed World Principle

SystemsHigh supportSystems Theory

Included

Updated 2026-08-15

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

A resource-focused heuristic from TRIZ, the closed world principle constrains problem solving to resources that already exist within the system or its immediate environment, forbidding the introduction of new external elements until those are exhausted. The constraint forces a review of unused capability already present. The qualification is that the boundary is a resource horizon rather than a physical enclosure, and once internal resources are genuinely exhausted the search should move outward to the supersystem.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Use Resource Inventory: list everything already present that could perform the needed function. - Use Boundary Shift: move the search to the surrounding system when internal resources are exhausted.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Adding a new component is the most obvious response to a problem, which is why it is used even when existing parts could serve. Forbidding additions removes that default, so attention turns to the functions already available inside the system, and the resulting solution avoids new cost and new complexity.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

List all the resources already present in the system. 2. Test each one against the function that must be performed. 3. Exhaust the internal options before considering any additions. 4. Widen the search to the surrounding environment if nothing works. 5. Introduce an external element only as a last resort.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

Learning progress0%

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-world_assumptionZH · Explicit
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